"A robot vacuum is generally an interim solution for those periods where you aren't able to get around to a full vacuum, unless you have a non-carpeted floor where they may be suitable," says CHOICE's home expert Chris Barnes. "Even then, you may want to supplement it with a stick vac clean-up."

So, they may not be an outright replacement for a good vacuum. But they obviously fill a consumer need, as they remain a perennially popular appliance. Perhaps it has something to do with the idea of getting the housework done without having to lift a finger?

If you're in the market for a robot vac, here are a few models you could rule out immediately.

Three robot vacuum cleaners to avoid

There aren't too many brands on the market, but they're all pretty expensive, so where do you begin? While some of the robot vacs in our latest test gave us a warm fuzzy feeling, there were some that left us feeling ripped off.